Raising Is ChatGPT safe for kids? ChatGPT and Gemini: what parents should know
Is ChatGPT safe for kids? OpenAI's terms set the minimum age at 13 and require a parent's permission under 18, and Apple's App Store rates both ChatGPT and Google's Gemini 13+, listing infrequent violence, horror, drug references, and sexual content. ChatGPT has parental controls since September 2025 and a separate experience for under-18s since August 2026. Google lets children under 13 use Gemini only through a parent's Family Link account. On October 14, 2026, eight US states sued OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT is hurting children and deceiving adults; OpenAI says it has built age-specific protections.
ChatGPT and Gemini at a glance
- ✓Official rating above age 7
App Store: 13+ (ChatGPT and Gemini) - –Contact with other players or strangers
Chats with AI, not people - ✓Purchases with real money
ChatGPT Go, Plus, Pro; Google AI plans - –Paid random items
None found - ✓Violence or scary content in rating descriptors
App Store: infrequent violence, horror - ✓Government lawsuits, fines, or safety warnings
8 state suits (Oct 2026), Florida (June 2026)
Each flag is a yes-or-no fact from the sources on this page. The number is a count of flags, not a safety score. How we count.
| Type | AI chatbot apps: ChatGPT by OpenAI and Gemini by Google |
|---|---|
| App Store (iOS) | Both 13+ — infrequent violence, horror, profanity, drug references, sexual content; ChatGPT lists age assurance and parental controls source |
| Google Play | Both Teen — Diverse Content: Discretion Advised source |
| Minimum age | ChatGPT: 13, with a parent's permission under 18 (OpenAI terms). Gemini: under 13 only through Family Link |
| Parental controls | ChatGPT (since Sept 2025): linked accounts, quiet hours, voice and image off; parents don't see chats |
| Government | FTC inquiry (2025); 8 states sued OpenAI on Oct 14, 2026; Florida in June 2026 source |
Checked October 2026. Ratings and settings change; check the official source before you decide. What do these ratings mean?
Facts for parents, not medical or legal advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.
What are ChatGPT and Gemini?
Short answer: AI chatbots: you type or talk, and the app writes back, answers questions, or makes pictures.
ChatGPT is made by OpenAI; Gemini is made by Google. Both are free to download, with paid plans. The replies come from an AI model, not a person, and they can be wrong.
ChatGPT age limit and Gemini for kids
Short answer: ChatGPT is for 13 and up; Gemini is open to younger children only through Family Link.
- ChatGPT: OpenAI's terms require users to be at least 13, with a parent's or guardian's permission under 18. Since January 2026, ChatGPT estimates whether an account likely belongs to someone under 18 and, if unsure, uses the under-18 settings.
- Gemini: parents can turn on Gemini for children under 13 in Google's Family Link; Google says its filters aren't perfect and children "may encounter content you don't want them to see." It isn't available to supervised accounts in the EU, Switzerland, or the UK.
Is ChatGPT safe for kids? The facts
Short answer: It's rated 13+, and its parental controls cover teens, not young children.
- Rating: App Store 13+ for both apps; Google Play Teen.
- Parental controls (ChatGPT): a parent and teen link accounts; parents can set quiet hours and turn off memory, voice mode, and image generation. Parents don't see chats; in rare cases of serious risk, they may get a safety notice.
- ChatGPT for Teens: since August 18, 2026, a separate experience for under-18s with stricter content rules and study tools.
- Purchases: ChatGPT Go ($8), Plus ($19.99), and Pro plans; Google AI Plus ($4.99) to Ultra ($199.99).
Has OpenAI been sued?
Short answer: Yes. On October 14, 2026, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana each sued OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT is hurting children and deceiving adults, according to AP. Florida's attorney general sued OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, on June 1, 2026. In September 2025, the FTC ordered seven companies, including OpenAI and Google's parent Alphabet, to report how they test their chatbots' effects on children; that's a study, not a lawsuit. Families have also filed private wrongful-death lawsuits. OpenAI says it has built child-safety protections into ChatGPT and disputes the private suits. As of October 2026, we found no government lawsuit over Gemini.
The habit kids may copy: asking the machine first
A chatbot answers every question instantly and sounds sure of itself, even when it's wrong.
Try tonight: check one answer together
Ask your child a question you can check together, like "How many legs does a spider have?" Guess first, then look it up in a book or go find a spider picture. Ask: "How do we know it's true?" In our program, this is the lesson "True or Made Up": checking a fear against the facts.
Why you can trust this page: the main facts link to their sources, a separate reviewer checks each page before it goes live, and the date shows when we last checked. How we review · Report an error
FAQ
What is the ChatGPT age limit?
13. OpenAI's terms require users to be at least 13, with a parent's or guardian's permission under 18.
Can kids under 13 use Gemini?
Only through Family Link: a parent can turn on Gemini for a child under 13. It isn't available to supervised accounts in the EU, Switzerland, or the UK.
Does ChatGPT have parental controls?
Yes, since September 2025: parents link to a teen's account, set quiet hours, and turn off voice, memory, and image generation. They don't see the chats.
Is Gemini safe for kids?
Apple rates Gemini 13+. Google says its filters for children aren't perfect and kids may see content parents don't want them to see.
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